Get off My lawn Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Hello I was hoping for any suggestions on a cheap replacement cartridge for my Clearaudio Concept TT. This has been sitting on the shelf for a number of years but my teenage son is now getting interested in vinyl so I want to get this working again. The old Clearaudio Concept MC cartridge that was on it has lost its stylus, and while I plan to get that retipped to keep as a spare, I was looking at something cheap and robust that would be safer as a first cartridge, given that he and his friends will be using it! MM or MC is fine ( will be using the Clearaudio Basic phono stage that can take both), and the rest of the system will be some bits and pieces I have at home ( B&W 602S2s, and probably a Musical Fidelity B1, or a Wadia i151) Budget - ideally less than $200 - so I'm assuming MM, maybe with an easily replaceable stylus, that will sound OK on this system and not damage his records. Not sure if anyone has much experience with cartridges other than what came fitted on the Concept. I had a Lyra Kleos on it at one point. The tonearm is the Verify, which is a bit fiddly to adjust/set up etc, esp the anti skate, etc. I realise its not the ideal 1st TT, but it doesn't seem to make sense to buy something, when its sitting there unused. Cheers Suresh
muzzagruzz Posted February 13 Posted February 13 (edited) Ortofon Blue perhaps? If the table has been sitting unused for a few years then I’d put a couple of drops of sewing machine oil on the bearing shaft and perhaps change the belt. Edited February 13 by muzzagruzz 1
Darryl Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Maybe something with a conical stylus which won't be as sensitive to set up as some others. With the Audio Technica range you can always upgrade the stylus later on, maybe for a birthday present? https://www.audio-technica.com/en-au/at-vm95c 3
Juzbear Posted February 13 Posted February 13 At95 with elliptical stylus is a good and fairly cheap choice. I have one on a similarly overcapitalised turntable system that my daughter listens to, and it is great. If they damage the stylus, just replace it. Justin 2
Chigurh Posted February 13 Posted February 13 The Audio Technica AT-VM95ML is slightly over budget at $259 from Amazon. It's got a Microline stylus and sounds terrific. Apparently Microline styluses last 3-4 times longer than other stylus shapes if they are correctly aligned. 2
blakey72 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Depends on what level sound you want to start him off on. Personally I'd be wanting to deliver a taste of the black magic. Yes the offerings from AT and Ortofon are good. I've had the AT-VM95E, the Ortofon 2M Red, Blue and OM10. Plus a few other entry level carts Rega Carbon and Grado Prestige Black2. However the one that really shocked me on how good it was for the price was the Nagaoka MP-100 and MP-110. These for entry level carts have something a bit special to offer IMO. 3 1
Get off My lawn Posted February 13 Author Posted February 13 Thanks for the suggestions everyone - given me plenty of options to think about. Has anyone fitted any of the cartridges suggested to the Clearaudio ( with the Verify tonearm) ? There doesn't seem to be much about that when I search on the internet, except for people commenting on how difficult the arm is to work with trying to set anti-skate, VTF, VTA. Cheers Suresh
Chigurh Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I would recommend leaving the anti-skate adjustment alone. It's hypersensitive and very inconveniently located. 1
Get off My lawn Posted February 13 Author Posted February 13 6 minutes ago, Chigurh said: I would recommend leaving the anti-skate adjustment alone. It's hypersensitive and very inconveniently located. Unfortunately I know... Something must have happened while it was sitting unused, because when I tried to get it going recently, the anti skate was way off and the arm was moving in an alarming fashion - took me ages to readjust it. I still dont know why they put it under the table.
Niekos Posted February 13 Posted February 13 I can recommend the Audio Technica AT-VM95SH. I had the Nagaoka MP-110 before it and this one really is much better (IMHO). More detailed, more relaxed sound. And not very expensive, so fits your budget? 1
wartman Posted February 13 Posted February 13 Sumiko Pearl . It's an elliptical stylus but sounds great. 1
cafe latte Posted February 13 Posted February 13 1 hour ago, wartman said: Sumiko Pearl . It's an elliptical stylus but sounds great. The Pearl is the same engine that the Garrott Brothers use and the Amethyst is the low output version ( Excel corporation). The LP Gear Vessel is the low output Excel Corporation engine too and it is just over 100 bucks US so a lot cheaper for the same engine. Chris 2 1
Juzbear Posted February 13 Posted February 13 10 hours ago, Get off My lawn said: Thanks for the suggestions everyone - given me plenty of options to think about. Has anyone fitted any of the cartridges suggested to the Clearaudio ( with the Verify tonearm) ? There doesn't seem to be much about that when I search on the internet, except for people commenting on how difficult the arm is to work with trying to set anti-skate, VTF, VTA. Cheers Suresh I haven’t worked with this tone arm, though the manual from the clearaudio website was reasonably clear. One thing that I would suggest is using a cheap and nasty LP12 setup trick- using four tomato tins (what’s in the tin is irrelevant, but I tried to use the same kind to ensure the same height) to support the feet so you can get to the anti skate, if you feel this needs to be reset. Adjusting the VTA appears to be the same as any other tonearm that lacks on-the-fly adjustment, ie. every one I have ever owned- you loosen the grub screw with a small Allen key, and adjust the pillar up and down to achieve a horizontal tonearm tube. You can use a tiny level if you are obsessive, though eyeballing it is likely to be enough in this case with less advanced stylus profiles. As to adjusting the VTF, the main difference from any other arm is the need to stabilise the arm tube with on hand while adjusting the counterweight, due to the magnetic bearing. Good luck, and if it is all too much, I am sure a local dealer would be able to help you with the set up! 1
Get off My lawn Posted February 14 Author Posted February 14 12 hours ago, Juzbear said: I haven’t worked with this tone arm, though the manual from the clearaudio website was reasonably clear. One thing that I would suggest is using a cheap and nasty LP12 setup trick- using four tomato tins (what’s in the tin is irrelevant, but I tried to use the same kind to ensure the same height) to support the feet so you can get to the anti skate, if you feel this needs to be reset. Adjusting the VTA appears to be the same as any other tonearm that lacks on-the-fly adjustment, ie. every one I have ever owned- you loosen the grub screw with a small Allen key, and adjust the pillar up and down to achieve a horizontal tonearm tube. You can use a tiny level if you are obsessive, though eyeballing it is likely to be enough in this case with less advanced stylus profiles. As to adjusting the VTF, the main difference from any other arm is the need to stabilise the arm tube with on hand while adjusting the counterweight, due to the magnetic bearing. Good luck, and if it is all too much, I am sure a local dealer would be able to help you with the set up! Thanks for reminding me of the 4 can method - works a treat! 1 1
Chigurh Posted February 15 Posted February 15 It looks like you went for the AT-VM95ML. Let us know what you think of it when you're all set up.
muzzagruzz Posted February 15 Posted February 15 On 13/2/2025 at 11:55 PM, Get off My lawn said: Thanks for the suggestions everyone - given me plenty of options to think about. Has anyone fitted any of the cartridges suggested to the Clearaudio ( with the Verify tonearm) ? There doesn't seem to be much about that when I search on the internet, except for people commenting on how difficult the arm is to work with trying to set anti-skate, VTF, VTA. Cheers Suresh Don’t touch the anti-skate, it’s factory set.
Get off My lawn Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 24 minutes ago, muzzagruzz said: Don’t touch the anti-skate, it’s factory set. It was when I got it back in 2012. It had been sitting on a shelf since 2016, and the last time I turned it on was a few years ago. When I tried using it recently, the arm was swinging wildly - something had happened to the anti skate so I had to re-set it.
muzzagruzz Posted February 15 Posted February 15 33 minutes ago, Get off My lawn said: It was when I got it back in 2012. It had been sitting on a shelf since 2016, and the last time I turned it on was a few years ago. When I tried using it recently, the arm was swinging wildly - something had happened to the anti skate so I had to re-set it. Understandable. Hope it’s singing along now. 1
Get off My lawn Posted March 8 Author Posted March 8 Hello everyone Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. Went with the Audio Technica VM95ML - lots of good reviews, and it was available at a shop 2 min down the road (Shelby Acoustics)! Set up was very fiddly - slight changes to the VTA seem to have an unpredictable effect on the anti skate. In the end it actually sounded pretty good ( via the Edison phono stage in my main system, though obviously nowhere close to my main TT), but the anti skate is still wrong. I'll be getting a professional to do it properly. Most importantly, my son's enjoying it. Cheers 3
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